Florida State Receivers To Battle For Targets

With two of Florida State's top three receivers leaving Tallahassee, the Seminoles will start looking for new players to step up in spring practice.

Florida State's top wide receiver, Rashad Greene (76/1,128/9) returns, so the question lies at who will replace Kelvin Benjamin and Kenny Shaw.

Isaiah Jones and Jesus Wilson caught two and three passes each in 2013. Jones was a consensus four-star recruit with good speed and a 32-inch vertical. Wilson lacks the height of players like Benjamin, but was a proven wide receiver in high school.

Kermit Whitfield may be one of the best receivers on the roster for the 'Noles. Whitfield runs a reported 4.3 40, which he showed off returning a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown in the national championship game, making him a great deep threat for Jameis Winston. Last season Whitfield hauled in 38 catches for 520 yards and four touchdowns.

For players like Jones, Wilson and Whitfield, the spring will be extremely important in trying to separate themselves from two very talented freshmen who will arrive in the summer in Ermon Lane and Travis Rudolph.

At 6-foot-2, Lane has the big frame that Florida State loses with Benjamin's departure as well as an ability to win jump balls. Rudolph, who was rated the seventh-best wide receiver in the class of 2014 by one recruiting service, is also expected to immediately push for playing time.